Indian-origin ninth grader Sirish Subash recently achieved first place in the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge, an esteemed middle school science competition held in St. Paul, Minnesota. A student at Georgia’s Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology, Sirish won this top honor with his innovative AI-powered device, "Pestiscand." This handheld detector can identify pesticide residues on produce with over 85% accuracy, earning him the title “America's Top Young Scientist” and a $25,000 prize.
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge, organized by 3M and Discovery Education, brought together ten finalists who dedicated months to developing and refining their projects. Sirish’s Pestiscand stood out for its practical design and technological innovation, using spectrophotometry combined with machine learning to measure light reflections and non-invasively detect pesticides on fruits and vegetables like spinach and tomatoes.
In the competition, finalists were evaluated on creativity, STEM knowledge, and presentation skills. Over the summer, Sirish worked closely with his mentor, Aditya Banerji, a Senior Research Engineer at 3M, who helped him transform Pestiscand from concept to prototype. Second and third places were awarded to Minula Weerasekera from Oregon, for a unique energy storage solution, and William Tan from New York, for an AI-powered artificial reef that supports marine life growth, with each student receiving a $2,000 prize.
Now in its 17th year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge continues to inspire youth to develop real-world solutions using STEM. Past winners have gone on to file patents, give TED Talks, and appear on prestigious lists like Forbes’ 30 Under 30. By providing resources and mentorship, 3M and Discovery Education encourage the next generation to turn their innovative ideas into impactful, real-world solutions.
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